Microsoft Teams is a great way to work together as a team. But if you’re not familiar with the keyboard shortcuts, you may find it difficult to use the tool effectively. Here are some tips to help you get started:
- Start by opening Microsoft Teams and clicking on the three lines in the top left corner of the screen. This will open a menu that includes all of the team’s shortcut keys.
- To access a particular key, press and hold that key and then click on the corresponding button in the menu. For example, if you want to access “Send Message”, press and hold “Ctrl+F5”.
- If you want to change a shortcut’s default action, just click on the “Change Action” button in the menu and then select your desired action from the list. For example, if you want to add an extra user to your team, you would add them by clicking on “Add User” in the top right corner of the screen and then selecting their name from the list.
Like other Microsoft applications, Microsoft Teams is packed with useful keyboard shortcuts. Become a Teams power user with this cheat sheet of useful hotkeys for Microsoft’s workplace (and home) communication tool.
Hotkeys for Microsoft Teams on Windows
All hotkeys below are for the Teams desktop app on Windows 10 and other versions of Windows. There are some slight differences on the web, so we’ve noted where the Teams web app’s keyboard shortcuts are different.
General
Show Hotkeys: Ctrl+. Show Commands: Ctrl+/ Search: Ctrl+E Goto: Ctrl+G (On the web: Ctrl+Shift+G ) Start New Chat: Ctrl+N (On the web: Left Alt+N) Open Settings: Ctrl+, Open Help: F1 (On the web: Ctrl+F1) Zoom In: Ctrl+= Zoom Out: Ctrl+-
Navigation
Open Activity: Ctrl+1 (On the web: Ctrl+Shift+1) Open Chat: Ctrl+2 (On the web: Ctrl+Shift+2) Open Teams: Ctrl+3 (On the web: Ctrl+Shift+3) Open Calendar: Ctrl+4 (On the web: Ctrl+Shift+4) Open Calls: Ctrl+5 (On the web: Ctrl+Shift+5) Open Files: Ctrl+6 (On the web: Ctrl+Shift+6) Go to Previous Item: Left Alt+Up Go to Next Item: Left Alt+Down Go to Previous Section: Ctrl+Shift+F6 Go to Next Section: Ctrl+Shift+F6 Move Selected Team Up: Ctrl+Shift+Up Move Selected Team Down: Ctrl+Shift+Down
Messaging
Go to Compose: C Expand Compose: Ctrl+Shift+X Send (In Expanded Compose Box): Ctrl+Enter Attach: Ctrl+O Insert Return: Shift+Enter Reply to Thread: R Mark Important: Ctrl+Shift+I
Meetings and Calls
Accept Video Call: Ctrl+Shift+A Accept Audio Call: Ctrl+Shift+S Decline Call: Ctrl+Shift+D Start Audio Call: Ctrl+Shift+C Start Video Call: Ctrl+Shift+U Toggle Mute: Ctrl+Shift+M Toggle Video: Ctrl+Shift+O Toggle Fullscreen: Ctrl+Shift + F Go to Sharing Toolbar: Ctrl+Shift+Space
Hotkeys for Microsoft Teams on Mac
The hotkeys below are for Teams on macOS. The Teams web app is a little different, so we’ve noted where the website’s hotkeys are different.
General
Show Hotkeys: Cmd+. Show Commands: Cmd+/ Search: Cmd+E Goto: Cmd+G (On the web: Cmd+Shift+G) Start New Chat: Cmd+N (On the web: Option+N) Open Settings: Cmd+, (On the web: Cmd+Shift+,) Open Help: F1 (On the web: Cmd+F1) Zoom In: Cmd+= Zoom Out: Cmd+- Return to Default Zoom: Cmd+0
Navigation
Open Activity: Cmd+1 (On the web: Cmd+Shift+1) Open Chat: Cmd+2 (On the web: Cmd+Shift+2) Open Teams: Cmd+3 (On the web: Cmd+Shift+3) Open Calendar: Cmd+4 (On the web: Cmd+Shift+4) Open Calls: Cmd+5 (On the web: Cmd+Shift+5) Open Files: Cmd+6 (On the web: Cmd+Shift+6) Go to Previous Item: Left Opt+Up Go to Next Item: Left Opt+Down Go to Previous Section: Cmd+Shift+F6 Go to Next Section: Cmd+Shift+F6 Move Selected Team Up: Cmd+Shift+Up Move Selected Team Down: Cmd+Shift+Down
Messaging
Go to Compose: C Expand Compose: Cmd+Shift+X Send (In Expanded Compose Box): Cmd+Enter Attach: Cmd+O Insert Return: Shift+Enter Reply to Thread: R
Meetings and Calls
Accept Video Call: Cmd+Shift+A Accept Audio Call: Cmd+Shift+S Decline Call: Cmd+Shift+D Start Audio Call: Cmd+Shift+C Start Video Call: Cmd+Shift+U Toggle Mute: Cmd+Shift+M Toggle Video: Cmd+Shift+O Toggle Fullscreen: Cmd+Shift+F Go to Sharing Toolbar: Cmd+Shift+Space
Can You Set Custom Keyboard Shortcuts in Teams?
Microsoft Teams does not currently let you customize your hotkeys or keyboard shortcuts. Skype does, although similar apps like Slack and Discord haven’t yet implemented these features. Neither can you disable hotkeys in Teams as you can in Discord. This suggests that it’s only a matter of time until this highly requested feature comes to Teams.
RELATED: What Is Microsoft Teams, and Is It Right for My Business?
If you’re using keyboard shortcuts for accessibility reasons and have a question or need some help, the Microsoft Disability Answer Desk is a great place to ask for support for Teams and other Microsoft applications.
